Monday, 30 June 2014

A psychiatric panel and a psychologist have found that ParalympianOscar Pistorius, who is facing charges of murdering his girlfriend, is not mentally ill, the state prosecutor said Monday.

“Mr Pistorus did not suffer from a mental illness
or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for
the offence charged,” said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the
psychologist report, one of two reports that said the star runner
should be held criminally.
The South African sprinter is accused of gunning down Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door in his home on Valentine’s Day of last year (2013).

Nicknamed the “Blade Runner,” Pistorius has admitted to the shooting but pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder, alleging he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March
this year, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that
charge, the court would consider an alternative charge of culpable
homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.